What was thought to be a rusting World War Two explosive was found buried beneath sand at Tynemouth Longsands this afternoon.

A member of the public discovered the eight inch-long chunk of metal device at around 1pm prompting an area of the beach to be cordoned off.

But on further examination the item was found to be safe.

A lifeguard called the police after being shown the suspected explosive and a major incident team arrived to install a 200m cordon.

People sunning themselves on the beach were asked to move while surfers and swimmers were told to come ashore either side of the police tape.

Bomb disposal experts from Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire were been called to assess the item.

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Around 2,000 people packed onto Longsands today to enjoy the warm summer temperatures, while dozens took part in surfing lessons.

A member of the public had picked up the object and had it in his hands when he showed the lifeguard, who immediately told him to put it down and called the police.

A tannoy system was used to tell people to move away from the explosive while the cordon was set up at 1.10pm.

Christopher Mason, a lifeguard supervisor for the six members of staff working on the beach today, said: “RNLI lifeguards closed a portion of the beach off until experts from the army could identify the object.

“It’s been a relatively busy day with the schools breaking up and people have been inquisitive and curious about what’s been going on.”

Tynemouth Longsands where a suspected explosive device was found

Explosives were dropped along the North East coast and in the North Sea during World War Two and the eight inch tube shaped devices are usually parts of a shell or missile.

Last May the army carried out a controlled explosion at Blyth beach after two suspected bombs were found washed up on the sand.

Janine Pringle, from Birtley in Gateshead, who was at the beach with her family, said: “When we came down there was a lot of police around and I heard someone down at the sea saying a bomb had been found.

“We have been moved from a certain part of the beach but it hasn’t spoilt our day.”

Robbie McDonald, 24, from Morpeth, said: “I come down here quite a lot when it’s sunny. When I arrived I could see the police and they put up a cordon and the lifeguards were telling the surfers not to come onto the shore. A few people were mentioning a bomb. You just couldn’t make it up - it was a surprise to everyone.”